Over 150 Chinese nationals have applied for jobs at the battery materials factory construction site in Kotka, Finland, which is over 50% higher than what the Chinese main contractor initially estimated last spring. The factory, being built by the Chinese-Finnish company Easpring Finland New Materials, aims to produce materials for lithium batteries to meet the needs of the electric vehicle industry. This increase in Chinese workers has raised eyebrows, especially as the project was originally intended to primarily employ local subcontractors.

The Finnish Immigration Service, Migri, previously indicated that there could be hundreds of work-based residence permit applications from China coming to Kotka, a fact that was denied by the main contractor, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), and the factory company, Easpring Finland. According to these contractors, they expected only 80-100 Chinese equipment installers to come to the site, contingent on the availability of sufficient local expertise, labeling this as a contingency plan, 'Plan B.' The discrepancy between expected and actual numbers raises questions about the local workforce's readiness for such projects.

In the previous year, Migri handled 155 work-based residence permit applications, indicating a significant interest in employment opportunities within Finland from foreign workers. This situation reflects broader trends in the labor market, where certain sectors, particularly in technology and manufacturing, are increasingly reliant on international expertise to fill skill gaps. As the project progresses, it will be crucial to monitor how the integration of foreign labor affects local employment and development in the region.